Sinsinawa Mound Collaborative Farm

The vision for the Sinsinawa Collaborative farm is to cultivate farmers to grow healthy food for a sustainable community.

The Sinsinawa Mound Collaborative Farm assists beginning farmers in their quest to access land and develop a thriving farm business. We mentor farmers on land-stewardship and organic production to promote a healthy, vibrant regional food system. This will be accomplished through:

The Sinsinawa Dominicans are a community of women that have been rooted in Southwest Wisconsin’s rural landscape since 1847. They have devoted their lives to helping others and increasing the livelihoods of people throughout the world. The Motherhouse and Administrative Center, and an Educational Conference Center are located on 450 acres of woodlands, wetlands, prairie, and farmland which the sisters wish to steward in a manner that is complimentary to the land and useful as farmland.

In collaboration with Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SWWRPC), Sinsinawa Mound has developed a strategic plan outlining future directions for this land. The goals of this plan aligns with goals developed in a recently completed regional planning process, Grow Southwest Wisconsin, which was funded by a grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Grow Southwest Wisconsin Regional Plan clearly articulates a need to “Provide educational resources to new farmers and entrepreneurs entering the agriculture industry” (SWWRPC).

The Sinsinawa Dominicans are committed to developing a new model of land use that will provide opportunities for beginning farmers, inclusive of infrastructure, guiding principles for land stewardship, land use agreements, education, and marketing support. This project will allow them to make their vision real and develop a collaborative farming community with the potential for multiple farm start-ups, and a shared marketing strategy.

Community Food Systems Project Team

The Sinsinawa Mound Collaborative Farm Project Team is dedicated to assisting Sinsinawa in its vision to create a branding campaign and landscape design for the 12 acres of vegetable and 20 acres of grazing land and structures related to the master plan developed for the cooperative farm.

In addition, the team will work together to find best practices for beginning farmer programs in Wisconsin and Iowa in both grazing, vegetable production, and conservation practices. The team will also help develop strategic partnerships and recruitment for mentors and mentees to farm on-site at Sinsinawa.

Project Team Goals:

Create identity through the development of a logo and marketing materials

Develop branding and consistent messaging for outreach

Promote network and partnerships between existing and new entities to foster sustainable business development